Belt Shelf

ABSTRACT

A unitary static structure that provides an assist for a human user to carry unwieldy and/or heavy objects is simple, easy to construct (e. g. by injection molding to provide a single piece of rigid plastic), and contains no moving parts. The structure includes a main plate, a garment belt-receiving manifestation associated with the main plate, and a flat shelf extending perpendicular to the main plate. The garment belt-receiving manifestation desirably defines a channel so that a garment belt passes through the channel and engages portions of the front face of the main plate.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There are many situations where it is desirable to have an assist thathelps a user carry objects without requiring the user's hands and armsto provide the sole support for an object. There are numerous prior artdevices that provide such assists such as shown in U.S. Pat. No.2,822,116 (a belt mounted bait box), U.S. Pat. No. 7,175,061 (a beltmounted hook-shaped cavity), U.S. Pat. No. 7,575,136 (a belt mountedchild carrier), U.S. Pat. No. 8,783,534 (a waistband mounted support fora ladder), U.S. Pat. No. 9,999,291 (a weight bearing ledge for boxesfastened directly to a back support belt and shoulder straps), and U.S.Pat. No. 10,640,320 (a belt mounted holder for rolls of tape), and USPatent Publications 2001/0004987 (webbing which wraps around a user'shand or wrist to support man-made sheet materials), 2007/0017945 (a beltmounted lifting device for packaged goods), and 2008/0283563 (a beltmounted carrier for a tape measure). While all of these, and some other,prior art devices can provide a desirable assist for certain objectssome are specific-purpose devices which are not universally usable, andmost have a degree of complexity that is undesirable if they are to bemanufactured easily and inexpensively.

According to the present invention an assist for carrying objects isprovided that is extremely simple and easy to produce, comprising aunitary device with no moving parts or complicating elements, that isfeasible for assisting a human user in the transport of an almostendless variety of objects. For example the assist according to theinvention may effectively be utilized to support cardboard, wooden, ormetal boxes; packages; pieces of furniture; construction materials;machinery; and almost any other object that can be safely carried by asingle human.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided aunitary static (i. e. no moving parts) structure which comprises: a mainplate; a garment belt-receiving manifestation associated with the mainplate; and a substantially flat shelf extending substantiallyperpendicular to the main plate and having a upper surface and a lowersurface.

Desirably, the unitary static structure is formed by a single piece ofrigid plastic, such as one selected from the group consistingessentially of glass-filled polypropylene, ABS, and glass-filled nylon.Also, the structure desirably includes at least one support connectedbetween the shelf lower surface and the main plate, the at least onesupport preferably comprising at least one gusset, such as a pair ofspaced gussets. The main plate desirably has a slight curvature, toroughly correspond to the front of a human's torso, although in somecircumstances it can be substantially flat.

The garment belt-receiving manifestation may comprise a pair of spacedapertures (such as elements 6 in US 2007/0017945) or a belt clip (suchas shown in U.S. Pat. No. 10,640,320). However, the preferredconstruction, which has a number of advantages, allows the garment beltto engage the main plate to more securely hold it in place on the torsofront of a human user. In this preferred, advantageous, embodiment themain plate preferably has a front face from which the shelf extends anda rear face; and the garment belt-receiving manifestation comprises achannel-forming manifestation including a top portion substantiallyparallel to the shelf and integral with the main plate and extendingoutwardly from the front face of the main plate, and a front portionsubstantially parallel to the main plate and integral with the topportion and the shelf upper surface, so that a garment belt may passthrough the channel formed by the top and front portions of thechannel-forming manifestation and engage portions of the main platefront face. Desirably, the main plate is discontinuous opposite thechannel-forming manifestation front portion, defining an open area inthe main plate substantially the same size as the front portion of thechannel-forming manifestation.

In a preferred embodiment the main plate has a width of about 8-10inches (most desirably about 8.5-9.0 inches) and a height of about 1.5-3inches (most desirably about 2.0-2.5 inches); and the shelf has a lengthof about 2-4 inches (most desirably about 2.5-3.0 inches) and a width ofabout 8-10 inches (most desirably about 8.5-9.0 inches). Also, thechannel desirably has a height of about 2-4 inches (most desirably about2.5-3.0 inches) and a thickness of about 0.1-0.4 inches (most desirablyabout 0.2-0.3 inches). Also in the preferred embodiment the unitarystructure further comprises at least one support connected between theshelf lower surface and the main plate, the support desirably comprisingone or more gussets.

As used herein the term “substantially perpendicular” means (for examplewith respect to the main plate and the shelf) that two elements make anangle of about 85°-95° with respect to each other, preferably about orexactly 90°.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is providedan object-supporting assist which comprises: A main plate having a frontface and a rear face; a shelf extending substantially perpendicular tothe main plate and having an upper surface and a lower surface; and agarment belt-receiving manifestation comprising a channel-formingmanifestation including a top portion substantially parallel to theshelf and integral with the main plate, and extending outwardly from thefront face of the main plate, and a front portion substantially parallelto the main plate and integral with the upper surface of the shelf, sothat a garment belt may pass through the channel formed by the top andfront portions of the channel-forming manifestation and engage portionsof the main plate front face.

According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided: Acombination for assisting a human in carrying an unwieldy and/or heavyobject, which comprises: a unitary static structure including: a curvedmain plate; a garment belt-receiving manifestation associated with thecurved main plate; a substantially flat shelf extending substantiallyperpendicular to the curved main plate; and a garment belt passingthrough the belt-receiving manifestation for securement around a human'swaist so that the shelf extends outwardly from the garment belt forsupporting an unwieldy and/or heavy object.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a simple,easy-to-construct, versatile, object-supporting assist attachable to ahuman user's belt. This and other objects of the invention will becomeclear from the detailed description of the drawings and from theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of an exemplary unitary staticstructure object-supporting assist according to one aspect of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a view the same as that of FIG. 1 only showing the structurein combination with a garment belt with which the structure is used, thegarment belt shown in dotted line;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the structure of FIGS. 1 & 2;

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the structure of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the structure of FIGS. 1-4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of FIGS. 1-5 in useon a human user, and

FIG. 7 is substantially the same as FIG. 6 only with an object carriedby the human user shown in dotted line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A unitary static (i. e. no moving parts) structure according to theinvention is shown generally by reference numeral 10 in the drawings.The static structure 10 comprises a main plate 12, a garment belt (G—seeFIGS. 2, 6 & 7)—receiving manifestation, shown generally at 14,associated with the main plate 12, and a shelf 16 extendingsubstantially perpendicular to the main plate 12, the shelf 16 having asubstantially flat upper surface 18 (FIGS. 1, 2, & 6) and a lowersurface 20 (FIGS. 4 & 5). Desirably at least one support (shown as apair of spaced gussets 22 in FIGS. 4 & 5) is connected between the shelf16 lower surface 20 and the main plate 12.

Desirably, the unitary static structure 10 is formed by a single pieceof rigid plastic (e. g. by injection molding), such as one selected fromthe group consisting essentially of glass-filled polypropylene, ABS, andglass filled nylon, although other materials and construction techniquesmay be used. As seen in all of the drawing figures, the main plate 12desirably has a slight curvature (see C in FIG. 5), to roughlycorrespond to the front of a human's torso (see H in FIGS. 6 & 7),although in some circumstances the plate 12 can be substantially flat.The degree of curvature C illustrated in FIG. 5 may be about 45-60degrees (most desirably about 52°).

The garment belt-receiving manifestation 14 may comprise a pair ofspaced apertures (such as elements 6 in US 2007/0017945) or a belt clip(such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 10,640,320). However, the preferredconstruction, which has a number of advantages, including allowing thegarment belt G to engage the front face 24 of the main plate 12 to moresecurely hold the plate 12 in place on the front torso of a human user H(see FIGS. 6 & 7), is seen most clearly in FIGS. 1, 2 & 4. In thispreferred, advantageous, embodiment the main plate 12 preferably has thefront face 24 from which the shelf 16 extends and a rear face 26 (seeFIGS. 3 & 5), and the garment belt-receiving manifestation 14 comprisesa channel-forming manifestation (the channel indicated by referencenumeral 28 and most clearly seen in FIGS. 1 & 4) including a top portion30 substantially parallel to the shelf 16 and integral with the mainplate 12 and extending outwardly from the front face 24 thereof, and afront portion 32 substantially parallel to the main plate 12 andintegral with the top portion 30 and the substantially flat shelf uppersurface 18, so that a garment belt G may pass through the channel 28formed by the top and front portions 30, 32, respectively, of thechannel-forming manifestation 14 and securely engage portions of themain plate front face 24 (see FIGS. 2 & 6).

Desirably, the main plate 12 is discontinuous opposite thechannel-forming manifestation front portion 32, defining an open area(35, seen in FIG. 3) in the main plate 12 substantially the same size asthe front portion 32 of the channel-forming manifestation 14. This openarea 35 not only reduces the amount of material necessary to form thestructure 10 but under some circumstances can receive a buckle, snaps,VELCRO strips, or other attachments for the ends of the garment belt G,although the belt end attachments may be provided on a side of the humanuser H.

In a preferred embodiment, in order to provide optimum functionality ofthe structure 10, the main plate 12 has a width 37 (see FIG. 3)preferably of about 8-10 inches (most desirably about 8.5-9.0 inches)and a height 38 (see FIG. 3) preferably of about 4-7 inches (mostdesirably about 5-6 inches), and the shelf 16 has a length 40 (seeFIG. 1) preferably of about 1.5-3 inches (most desirably about 2-2.5inches) and a width 41 substantially the same as the width 37 of themain plate 12 (see FIG. 1). Also, the channel 28 preferably has a height43 (see FIG. 4) of about 2-4 inches (most desirably about 2.5-3 inches)and a thickness 44 (FIG. 4) preferably of about 0.1-0.4 inches (mostdesirably about 0.2-0.3 inches).

As used herein the term “substantially perpendicular” means (for examplewith respect to the main plate 12 and the shelf 16) that two elementsmake an angle of about 85°-95° with respect to each other, preferablyabout or exactly 90°.

FIGS. 6 & 7 show the unitary static structure 10 according to theinvention fastened to the front torso of a human user H, using a garmentbelt G, and supporting an unwieldy and/or heavy object shown in dottedline at 50 in FIG. 7. The structure 10 thus provides an excellent assistto the human user H in carrying the object 50 so that he/she need notuse his/her arms and hands alone to carry the object 50.

The invention is to be interpreted so that all possible individualranges within a broad range are specifically included herein. Also,while the invention has been herein shown and described in what ispresently conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodimentthereof it is to be understood that many modifications may be madewithin the scope of the invention, which scope is only to be limited bythe appended claims and the prior art.

1. A unitary static structure comprising: a main plate having a width; agarment belt-receiving manifestation associated with said main plate;and a shelf consisting of a single element extending substantiallyperpendicular to said main plate and extending substantially the entirewidth thereof and having a substantially flat upper surface and a lowersurface, said main plate, manifestation, and single shelf comprising aunitary static structure.
 2. A unitary static structure as recited inclaim 1 formed by a single piece of rigid injection molded plastic.
 3. Aunitary static structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said rigidplastic is selected from the group consisting essentially ofglass-filled polypropylene, ABS, and glass-filled nylon.
 4. A unitarystatic structure as recited in claim 2 further comprising at least onesupport extending between said main plate and said lower surface of saidshelf.
 5. A unitary static structure as recited in claim 1 wherein saidmain plate has a front face from which said shelf extends and a rearface; and wherein said belt-receiving manifestation comprises achannel-forming manifestation including a top portion substantiallyparallel to said substantially flat shelf upper surface and integralwith said main plate and extending outwardly from said front face ofsaid main plate, and a front portion substantially parallel to said mainplate and integral with said top portion and said shelf upper surface,so that a garment belt may pass through the channel formed by said topand front portions of said channel-forming manifestation and engageportions of said main plate front face.
 6. A unitary static structure asrecited in claim 5 wherein said main plate is discontinuous oppositesaid channel-forming manifestation front portion, defining an open areain said main plate substantially the same size as said front portion ofsaid channel-forming manifestation.
 7. A unitary static structure asrecited in claim 1 wherein said main plate has a width of approximately8-10 inches and a height of approximately 4-7 inches, and wherein saidshelf has a length of approximately 1½-3 inches and a width ofapproximately 8-10 inches.
 8. A unitary static structure as recited inclaim 5 wherein said channel has a height of approximately 2-4 inchesand a thickness of approximately 0.1-0.4 inches.
 9. A unitary staticstructure as recited in claim 1 further comprising at least one supportconnected between said single shelf lower surface and said main plateand wherein said single shelf is continuous and unapertured.
 10. Aunitary static structure as recited in claim 1 wherein said main platehas a curvature generally corresponding to the front torso of a humanbeing.
 11. A unitary static structure as recited in claim 2 wherein saidmain plate has a curvature generally corresponding to the front torso ofa human being.
 12. A unitary static structure as recited in claim 11further comprising at least one supporting gusset connected between saidshelf lower surface and said main plate.
 13. A unitary static structureas recited in claim 12 wherein said main plate has a width ofapproximately 8-10 inches and a height of approximately 4-7 inches, andwherein said shelf has a length of approximately 1½-3 inches and a widthof approximately 8-10 inches and is continuous and unapertured.
 14. Aunitary static structure as recited in claim 13 wherein said main platehas a front face from which said shelf extends and a rear face; andwherein said belt-receiving manifestation comprises a channel-formingmanifestation including a top portion substantially parallel to saidshelf and integral with said main plate and extending outwardly fromsaid front face of said main plate, and a front portion substantiallyparallel to said main plate and integral with said top portion and saidshelf upper surface, so that a garment belt may pass through the channelformed by said top and front portions of said channel-formingmanifestation and engage portions of said main plate front face; andwherein said main plate is discontinuous opposite said channel-formingmanifestation front portion, defining an open area in said main platesubstantially the same size as said front portion of saidchannel-forming manifestation.
 15. An object-supporting assistcomprising: a main plate having a front face and a rear face; a shelfextending substantially perpendicular to said main plate and having anupper surface and a lower surface; and a garment belt-receivingmanifestation comprising a channel-forming manifestation including a topportion substantially parallel to said shelf and integral with said mainplate, and extending outwardly from said front face of said main plate,and a front portion substantially parallel to said main plate andintegral with said upper surface of said shelf, so that a garment beltmay pass through the channel formed by said top and front portions ofsaid channel-forming manifestation and engage portions of said mainplate front face.
 16. An object-supporting assist as recited in claim 15wherein said main plate is discontinuous opposite said channel-formingmanifestation front portion defining an open area in said main platesubstantially the same size as said front portion of saidchannel-forming manifestation.
 17. An object-supporting assist asrecited in claim 16 wherein said main plate has a curvature generallycorresponding to the front torso of a human being, and furthercomprising at least one supporting gusset connected between said shelflower surface and said main plate.
 18. In combination: a unitary staticstructure for assisting a human in carrying an unwieldy and/or heavyobject including: a curved main plate having a width; a garmentbelt-receiving manifestation associated with said curved main plate; anda single substantially flat upper surface shelf extending substantiallyperpendicular to said curved main plate and extending substantially theentire width thereof; a garment belt passing through said garmentbelt-receiving manifestation for securement around a human's waist sothat said shelf extends outwardly from said belt for supporting anunwieldy and/or heavy object; and an unwieldy and/or heavy objectsupported by said single substantially flat shelf upper surface.
 19. Acombination as recited in claim 18 wherein said main plate has a widthof approximately 8-10 inches and a height of approximately 4-7 inches,and wherein said single shelf is continuous and unapertured and has alength of approximately 1½-3 inches and a width of approximately 8-10inches; and wherein said main plate has a curvature generallycorresponding to the front torso of a human being.
 20. A combination asrecited in claim 19 further comprising a pair of spaced supportinggussets integral with said main plate and said shelf.